Effect of exercise on cognitive function in CKD patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does increasing physical activity increase cognitive function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)? A feasibility pilot study.
IRAS ID
255345
Contact name
Georgie Bedford
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Does increasing physical activity improve cognitive function of patients with chronic kidney disease? A feasibility pilot study.
WHY? Mild cognitive impairment affects between 5 and 20 per cent of the population aged 65 or over, with one in six cases progressing to dementia within a year. Cognitive impairment including dementia is three times more common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients than the general population. CKD is a progressive disease and recent studies have shown that as kidney function deteriorates cognitive function worsens. Poor blood vessel health may cause cognitive decline. Blood vessel health improves with physical activity and studies carried out on the general population suggest increasing physical activity may enhance cognitive functioning. Whether increasing physical activity is beneficial in patients with CKD remains unknown. This feasibility study will support a grant application to fund a larger multicentre randomised controlled trial, with the aim to influence policy decisions regarding whether exercise should be offered as part of routine care for patients with CKD.
WHAT? The main aim of this study is to determine if it is feasible to recruit, test and retain CKD patients in an eight-week thrice weekly supervised exercise intervention, which could potentially lead to an improvement in cognitive function.
WHO? Patients with CKD stages 3 or 4, with mild to moderate cognitive impairment, as diagnosed by a clinician using criteria set by the International Working Group on Mild Cognitive Impairment (2004).
WHERE? Participants will be recruited from renal units and out-patient clinics within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales. Training will be completed in renal units, out-patient departments, public or private gyms, or at Universities. Testing will be completed at renal units, out-patient departments, or at Universities.
HOW? The study will last two years; each patient’s involvement will be for nine weeks (eight weeks of intervention plus time to complete pre- and post-intervention assessments). Patients will be randomised (like flipping a coin) to receive either the exercise intervention or normal routine care. Assessments will include four computer and pen and paper tests of cognitive function, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan to measure vessel health in the brain, and a Senior Fitness test to assess functional capacity.
The study MRI scan time and consumables are being funded by Bangor University. Academic and clinical staff time is being provided by collaborators as part of their normal duties.REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
18/WA/0426
Date of REC Opinion
21 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion